Preserve the progress: Wen

08:49, December 18, 2009

Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday spoke of China's desire to see progress and consensus reached up to now written into the outcome paper from the two-week UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, despite the gloomy expectations hanging over the Danish capital.

Wen said the paper can still provide momentum for future international cooperation and negotiation and he called on negotiators and global leaders to take swift action to lock in achievements made during two years of tough talks aimed at finding a successor to the Kyoto Protocol.

With snow melting in bright sunshine yesterday and with the UN conference entering its crucial final stage, Wen told Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that world leaders should make every effort to find common ground.

Wen will likely make his case during his five-minute speech at the UN climate change leaders plenary today. He is also scheduled to make a one-minute statement during the second phase of the plenary.

His stance was praised by Rasmussen, who said: "I hope all the countries will follow China's example by showing active and responsible attitudes to achieve a positive outcome."

Sources close to the Chinese delegation said China would like to see all the policy consensus reached so far included in an outcome document - such as carbon emissions reduction targets proposed by developed countries.

China offered to cut carbon intensity by 40-45 percent by 2020 from the 2005 levels.

US President Barack Obama has offered to cut greenhouse gases by 4 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 - or 17 percent against 2005 levels.

The European Union has said it will cut emissions by at least 20 percent against 1990 levels.

"All these targets should be written into the paper for further negotiations," said the sources in Copenhagen.

During his flight to Copenhagen, Wen told China Daily that Beijing's target was based on reality and he said China will not lessen its efforts, no matter what outcomes are reached today in Copenhagen.